Kate Evans, who is a single mother and member of the Ulster Unionist Party from Portadown, has highlighted the challenges faced by many with the rising costs associated with school uniforms.

Kate said:

“Every year parents raise the issue surrounding the price of school uniforms, and every year that call falls on deaf ears. 

“Currently the Minister of Education has issued 'guidance' to schools in regards to their uniform policy. This needs to change. Simple guidance is helping no parent cover the ever-increasing price of uniforms and unfortunately some schools seem to continue to ignore the fact this guidance calls for uniform policy to be 'fair and reasonable, in practical and financial terms'.

“As a single mother of one I dread the end of every school year. The minute my child steps out of that school gate in June I know I'm on the countdown to getting a new uniform ready for the start of the new term in September. This year my anxiety levels shot through the roof as I knew I was preparing for the dreaded high school uniform purchase. 

“Don't get me wrong, I think our children should be wearing a uniform but there comes a point when a line needs to be drawn in the sand as to how much we can be charged for that. 

“Before I covered the cost of PE shoes and the standard black school shoes my bill was sitting at £284, this does not sound reasonable to me nor was it fair considering this was only for one child. What about the many parents who are having to buy multiple uniforms each school year, without the help of a school uniform grant. 

“The solution to this is not to simply to increase the current uniform grant, not every family is entitled to this, and they shouldn’t be made to pay extortionate prices because of that. 

“A newly-formed Parent Engagement Group (PEG) has this week launched a survey of parents in Northern Ireland looking specifically at the cost of uniforms across Northern Ireland and I look forward to seeing the results.”